Toothbrush



June 9, 1942. E. P. LOWE ETAL 2,285,865

TOOTHBRUSH Filed July 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet; l

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June 9, 1942. E. P. L-OWE ETAL 2,285,865

TOOTHBRUSH Patented June 9, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT orricr.

TOOTHBRUSH Edcar Paul Lowe and Allen V. Lowe,

' Carlsbad, N. Mex.

Application July 3, 1941, Serial No. 491,008

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in tooth brushes and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character comprising a unique construction and arrangement whereby water under pressure from any suitable source may be utilized for rotating a pair of brushes in opposite directions.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a tooth brush of the aforementioned character wherein a portion of the water which rotates the brushes may be conveniently used on said brushes for cleaning the teeth.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a rotary tooth brush of the character described comprising novel means for controlling the cleansing Water.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a rotary water driven tooth brush which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight, sanitary and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a tooth brush constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom Figure 3 is a View the tooth brush.

Figure 4 is a View in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail view in plan of the valve controlling slide.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises an elongated handle I of suitable material. The handle plan view of the device. in horizontal section through I has formed longitudinally therein a pair of parallel chambers 2 and 3 which communicate at their forward end portions through a port 4. A flexible water supply tube 5 has one end connected to the handle I in communication with the chamber 2.

The other end of the tube 5 is provided with suitable means 6 for connecting said tube to a faucet. A waste tube I is connected to the handle I in communication with the chamber 3.

Secured by a coupling 8 on the forward end of the handle I is a tapered tubular housing 9. The housing 9, it will be observed, is open at its rear end and is provided with a closed forward end It).

'Ptotatably mounted in the housing 9 is a drive shaft ll. The shaft II extends through the forward end I9 of the housing 9 and also extends into the chamber 2 of the handle I. Mounted on the shaft II for operation in the chamber 2 is a water actuated spiral impeller I2.

Also rotatably mounted in the housing 9 is a shaft I3 which parallels the shaft II. The shaft I 3 has mounted thereon a gear I4 which is driven by a gear I5 on the shaft II. A disk I6 on the shaft II retains the gear I4 against longitudinal movement in one direction relative to the gear I5. It will be noted that one end of the shaft I3 is journaled in the handle I and that the other end portion of said shaft I3 extends rotatably through the forward end II] of the housing 9.

Secured by a coupling I 1 on the forward end I 9 of the housing 9 is a tubular guard I8. Extending longitudinally through the guard I8 and the housing 9 into the handle I to an intermediate point is a water conducting tube I 9. forward end of the tube I9 is a brush and shield 20 of the cross-sectional shape shown to advantage in Figure 6 of the drawings. A pair of shafts 2| have their forward end portions journaled in the forward end wall of the shield 20. The shafts 2| extend into the tubular guard I8 and are connected at their rear ends to the shafts II and I3 for actuation thereby. Mounted on the shafts 2I for rotation in opposite directions in the shield 20 are brushes 22.

The tube I9 merges into a longitudinal duct 23 in the shield 20. The duct 23 is provided with a series of spaced ports 24 in the shield 20 for discharging water on the rotary brushes 22. This is shown to advantage in Figure 6 of the drawings.

As best seen in Figure 5 of the drawings, the handle I has mounted therein, at an intermediate point, a radial valve chamber 25 with which the tube I9 communicates. The impeller chamber 2 also communicates, at an intermediate point, with the valve chamber 25 through a passage 26 in the handle I. Slidable in the chamber 25 is a needle valve 21 for controlling the flow of water from the chamber 2 to the tube I9.

The valve 21 is controlled through the medium of a button or the like 28 which is slidably mounted on the handle I. The button 28 is elongated and has formed longitudinally therein an inclined groove 29 for the reception of the valve 21.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, water under pressure from a suitable source enters the chamber 2 and rotates the spiral impeller l2, thus driving the shaft ll. When this water reaches the forward end portion of the chamber 2 it passes through the port 4 into the chamber 3 and discharges through the waste tube 1. Rotation of the shaft H drives the shaft l3 in the opposite direction through the gears i5 and T4, thus rotating the brushes 22. The valve 21 is held in closed position when said valve is engaged in the shallow end portion of the inclined groove 29 in the slidable button 28. When water on the brushes 22 is desired, the button 28 is moved longitudinally on the handle I for positioning the deep end portion of the inclined groove 29 opposite the valve 21. In this manner the valve 21 is permitted to open and water from the chamber 2. flows through the passage 26 into the valve chamber 25 and thence into the tube I9 from which it is delivered to said brushes through the duct 23 and the ports 24.

It is believed that the many advantages of a tooth brush constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A tooth brush of the character described comprising an elongated handle having a chamber for the reception of water under pressure extending longitudinally therein, a tube mounted on said handle and communicating with the chamber at an intermediate point in said chamber, a shield on one end of said tube, a pair of brushes rotatably mounted in said shield, the shield having a duct therein communicating with the tube and further having spaced ports therein for discharging Water on the brushes, a spiral fluid actuated impeller rotatably mounted in the chamber, means including a pair of gear connected parallel shafts on the handle operatively connecting said impeller to the brushes, and means on the handle for controlling the communication between the tube and the chamber.

EDGAR P. LOWE. ALLEN V. LOWE. 

